Improvement in barbed fence-wires



J'. McNEIL L. BARBED FENCE-WIRE. No. 189,122. Patented April 3,1877.

I fax/anion- N-PETEFS. FHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASEHNG'ION. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN MGNEILL, OF CHICAGO, ASSIGNQR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO ALEXANDER O. DECKER, OF BUSHNELL, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARBED FENCE-WIRES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 189, [22, dated April 3, 1877 application filed July 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN McNEILL, of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barbed Fence-Wires; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to an improvement in wire-barb fences; and consists in applying to the rail-Wires of such fence a wire barb, provided with beveled points and shoulders, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of two parallel rail-wires, with barbs attached, and Fig. 2 is a view of my improved wire barb.

The rail-wires are represented by a a, and have curves b b. formed in them. They are to be secured to suitable posts in any convenient manner,'and are connected by the barbed wires E. These barbs are each formed of one piece of wire, flattened at the ends, and having beveled points a and shoulders 01 d. The barbs are twisted around each rail-wire at f, so as to form the letter Z, thus holding the two wires 00 a firmly in position, and leaving the points of the barb pointing slightly up and down on opposite sides of the wires. By making the barbs with beveled points 0 and shoulders (1 they will possess a sufficiently offensive character for cattle, and, at the same time, avoid the danger of injuring them by penetrating too far.

The curves b b in the rail-wires serve to compensate. for their contraction and expansion, and, when fine wires are used, a piece or pieces of sticks, weighted at one end, may be inserted in these curves for the purpose of keeping the wires at a proper tension.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Wire-fence meshes, consisting of the railwires a a, provided with curves b b, the Z- shaped wire barb E, herein described, having beveled points 0 and shoulders d d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 18th day of July, 1876, in.

presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MONEILL. Witnesses:

A. R. BROWN, E. L. Sormunr. 

